Smooth sailing for Mr Mukherjee
Mukherjee, who has enjoyed a long career with the Congress Party, was the candidate of the United Progressive Alliance, led by the Congress and backed by a number of smaller parties. The 518,000 votes he collected from members of parliament and state legislative assemblies far exceeded the number collected by his rival, PA Sangma, a former parliamentary speaker. When changes like this proceed smoothly and as per constitutionally laid-down guidelines, it should be noted how much energy is injected into the system. In our case, energy is constantly drained away by doubts, interventions and rumours that surround virtually every political issue, thereby contributing to difficulties with governance and the inability to cope with many matters to which more time needs to be devoted.
Mukherjee will make a well-respected president who has earned this respect over the years. This factor is important in giving the sense of unification that stems from the presidency. India has done well in building strong democratic foundations. This is something we need to learn from so that we are able to reach a stage when we, too, are able to move from one election to the next without the sense of danger that constantly stalks democracy in our country. Recently, and over the decades, we have witnessed interruptions that have barred us from building a durable system that is able to stand strong no matter what direction the winds blow from. Let us hope that we can learn from the example of our neighbour and progress in the fight for preserving democracy.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 24th, 2012.
COMMENTS (12)
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@Rajendra Kalkhande: @sonam
There was India prior to British colonialism and before systematic imposition of secularism/democracy and the standard of living was MUCH higher than any European country
You can keep secularism and will not solve poverty problem in 300 years. US the Superpower can't do it with their 50m living below poverty line.
Think racism in Europe and think Gujarat think golden temple. PK have only to fear and worry from Indian experience than learn
@Abdullah "India is a secular democracy and for the last 60 years its experiment has produced what? Nothing? there is the same poverty same gap between rich and poor. "
Your statement is far from truth. Do you think India of today is same as in 1947? take my words, massive change for good have taken place in last 65 years. A poor man who used to live in a hut, owns pakka house, sends his kids to school and lives respectably. Ofcourse lot more needs t be done. Its not easy to bring 1.2 billion people to the level of Europe in 60 years.
India is a secular democracy and for the last 60 years its experiment has produced what? Nothing? there is the same poverty same gap between rich and poor. They way world has gone microscopic on Islam and Muslim countries do the same on India or for that matter US you will see the fundamental failures of secularism in solving broken societies.
Democracy is a ruling system to implement Secularism which may suits India BUT not Pakistan
In Pakistan we need Islam and the ruling system for it is Khilafah.
The single biggest factor that will never allow Pakistani citzens to embark on a path of objective cruise controlled mode of political functioning is religion and only religion!!! Why just pakistan, which middle east nation has shown political maturity??? Even after dismntling mubarak, Egypt will not be stable because it is confused about the role of religion in the functioning of state. No wonder US continues to control islamic nations. Barring Turkey which in true sense is a secular nation than a islamic state and is a westernised european state! Zia's irresponsible mess of using religion has destroyed the intricate cultural diversity further. It may just be too late. Democracy needs the will and guts to push religion to secondary unimportant level. You have hordes of citizens who will not tolerate anything said against religion even if it costs lives of thousands of children and women. Any wonder why every terrorist organisation has base in Pakistan? Fifty years from now, editorials will still be writing what you have written today...failing to realise that a society that gives more importance to religion over lives of its citizens will never be democratic or stable!!
Sir,
The Presidential election wasn't without some controversy. There are questions about Pranab's 'clean credentials', and his candidature in view of him holding office of profit. And these cases may go to court for hearing now.
However, it is true that Pranab da (as he is called) is widely respected and deserved to be the top man. He is relatively clean, and commanded support even from opposition benches. But, I didn't like it one bit that we get our PM/President getting there through a favor of Gandhi Family.
For India to be a mature democracy, such hereditary 'leaders' should start loosing elections and leaders should reach top on their own steam.
Beautiful! This energy also percolates down to all citizens, and subconsciously he feels confident about his own citizenship. It is something similar to religion, which gives the believer a feeling of his own existence. Patriotism is all about perceiving this energy. This editorial is spot on about what ails Pakistan.
@paki fan: I agree that the current govt has many many faults. However, the new angels have to come via elections and not through the backdoor. Wait for the next elections. Human being should have self control and accept the other people's choice, which is the essence of a democratic civilized society. Elections are a sieving process and it would take a few elections (15-20 years) for the new people to slowly emerge. India did not make much economic progress till 1990's only after they had tried various types of elected govts. Despite the long wait the Indian voters did not lose their patience and faith on their own people. Regards, Mirza
@paki fan: It may be good to be self-critical for self development, but excessive self-criticism can become habit and turn into illness. This self-critical behavior at all times, may have been inculcated due to subjugation of South Asian society for many centuries. Time to break free and think independently & rationally without getting clouded by emotional, religious thoughts!
OK, Agreed, the presidentil elections in India were smooth and healthy without controversies etc. But you need to look for the reasons- Zardari is never compared to the Pranab our PM to Manmohan. Bring people with clean/ reasonable records, otherwise the turmoil will coninute. People of Pakistan will have every right to fight against the current corrupt Govt.
The new prez is well respected across party lines. The growth rate of the economy fell down to around 6 % during his recent tenureship as finance minister but then the whole world is facing an economic recession of certain types. He is internationally well respected and known and is also corrupt free like our pm Manmohan Singh so he may well make a good president. Cheerio
Congrats to the newly elected President of our neighboring country. The openness and ease with which complicated and long elections in India take place without the generals and SC involvement is a lesson for all of us. Nobody tries to delegitimize the election of president by attacking his indirect election (just like in Pakistani constitution) and not on one man one vote basis. Nobody gets the courts involved and everybody is graceful in defeat and magnanimous in victory. The elections are over and everybody is loyal to the federation and there are no allegations and conspiracies to overthrow and undo the verdict of people. They all wait till the next elections despite all the corruption charges (much bigger than Pakistan) for the biggest court of public opinion to decide their fate but only after the term.